The Department of Trade and Industry has announced that it is delaying implementation of the Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment (WEEE) directive for six months until June 2006. 

The DTI has already postponed the implementation of the directive, which was due to become law in the UK by 13 August this year.

In a statement the government cited concerns from industry that they would not be able to meet the August deadline, and a lack of experience among companies dealing in such recycling.

"This directive is about dealing effectively with electrical waste which can be damaging to the environment," said DTI minister Malcolm Wicks.

"It is challenging and has required a lot of planning and preparation, but our priority is to get this right."

The WEEE directive makes producers liable for the clean up and recycling costs of their products. This includes pickup, delivery to the recycling centre and ownership of any waste involved.